Apparatus for moulding sound-records.



PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1905.

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WALTER S. TYLER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORTO AMERICAN GRAPHOPHO-NE COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CON- NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR MOLDING SOUND-RECORDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed November 4,1905. Serial No. 285,832.

To all 1072 0721 it may concern.-

Be it known that I, W ALTER S. TYLER, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, have invented -a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for l\:lolding Sound-llecords, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

My inventionrelates to improvements in apparatus for producing duplicate cylindrical sound-records by impressing blank cylinders against the inner surface of a matrix, and particularly blank cylinders having a thin wall and made of materials such as celluloid, my object being generally to improve the efficiency of such apparatus in forming upon the record-blank an accurate impression of the surface of the matrix.

' The improvements constituting the invention may be readily comprehended from the detailed description and drawings. The latter show the preferred embodiment.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 18 a schematic view of means adapted to be used in preparing blank record-cylinders for use in the apparatus of Fig. 1.

The construction of the apparatus will be described in explaining its manner of use in forming duplicate cylindrical sound-records.

The raw material from which the blanks are formed is preferably in the form of celluloid tubes. These tubes are forced over a tapered -cylindrical mandrel 4, preferably of solid metal, having a shank or stemof smaller diameter adapted to fit into one end of a section of pipe 5, the other end of the latter being supported in any suitable manner, as in the jaws of a vise. Pipe 5 must be of such length as to accommodate the entire length of the celluloid tube. By this operation irregularities in the size and cylindrical form of the tubes will be removed by releasing pipe 5 from the vise and the pipe then replaced in the vise with mandrel 4 between nozzles 6 6, from which jets of steam are projected to heat the mandrel. After a tube is thus shaped and stretched, which operation is facilitated by heating of the mandrel, it is cut up into suitable lengths, which are washed, dried,- and coated with a solution of dye of the proper color dissolved in acetone or similar liquid, which is a solvent of celluloid. These blanks after becoming perfectly dry are ready to receive an impression. A blank between which 19 thus formed, and preferably previously coated with a very thin film of oil to prevent sticking in the mold, is placed in the matrix or mold 7, Fig. 1, the latter bearing on its inner surface a ridge the counterpart the-soundrecord groove to be impressed in the blank. The matrix is supported uponxand its lower end closed by a base-plate 8, having therein a circular recess 9, which at its greatest diameter is large enough to receive the lower extremity of the matrix. The peripheral edge of this recess is formed with two annular shoulders, an outer shoulder 10, upon which the matrix rests, and an inner shoulder T1,

and the lower edge of the matrix there is left an annular space 12, the latter having vents or outlets 13 extending through the base-plate. Within the shoulder 11 and bounded by the vertical wall of said shoulder the recess 9 is of a diameter approxima tely er ual to the internal I the matrix. 1 pipe 14, tapped through the base-plate S, communicates with a valve-controlled steam-pipe 15 and a valve-controlled compressed-air pipe 16.

The upper end of the matrix is closed by'a plate or cap 20, having an arrangement of recess and shoulders similar to that of the base-plate. "21 is a circular recess in the under slde of said cap, having two peripheral annular shoulders, an outer one, 22, which bears against and supports the cap upon the upper extremity of the matrix, and an inner one, 23, between which and the end of the matrix there is left an annular space 24, havin vents or outlets 25 extending through the top plate or cap. A depending flange 26 around the edge of the cap fits closely around the end of the matrix.

A blank 19, which should be of a length slightly greater than the length ofthe matrix plus that portion of the depths of recesses 21 and 14 which is beyond the ends of the matrix, having, as before sate'd, been placed in the matrix, the latter seated in the baseplate, and the cap adjusted to position above the matrix, it will be found that the blank by reason of its length will hold the shoulder 22 slightly above the end of the matrix. Downward pressure is applied to the cap by means of a wedge 27 en aging an opening through stem 28 (to whic 1 latter the capis secured) and acting against a fixed rigid overhanging arm 29. This pressure forces and compacts the ends of the blank tightly against the bottom walls of the recesses 9 and -21, forming tight joints at these points, and finally seats shoulder 22 against the end of matrix 7. Steam at suitable pressure is now admitted through pipes and 14 to =soften and expand the celluloid blank. Any escape of steam that may take place around no the ends of the blank and out through the .annular spaces 12 and 24 is quickly checked by the suction caused by the escaping steam drawing the softened celluloid into the crevioesflthrough which the steam is escaping,-

15 thereby sealing said crevices against further escape of steam. In this manner the celluloid may be' caused to slightly protrude into the spaces 12 and 24. After the steam has sufficiently softened the celluloid and expended the blank to take an accurate impression of the surface of the matrix the steam is turned ofi by closing the valve in ipe 15.; Air, under desired pressure is now a mitted through pipes 16 and 14, by open- 2 5' ing the valve in the former, to maintain sulficient internal pressure to hold the celluloid record-cylinder in engagement with the surfaeeof the-matrix while said record-cylinder is cooling and hardening. A small opening.

30 through cap-plate 20 permitsthe constant escape of a very limited quantity of steam and later of'compressed air. While this es-' cape of fluid is not sufliciently rapidto cause a' material or detrimental fall of pressure, it

does efiect a circulation of the fluids through the matrix, 'Which facilitates the maintenance, in the case of steam, of the desired heate ing temperature, and, in thecase of compressed air, of a bettercooling temperature. 40 The cooling may be hastened by filling or circulating. through the jacket 31 (screw-;

. threaded onto the matrix 7) cold water or' other cooling li uid. After the record has sufliciently cooldil and hardened to retain its 5 shape, the internal. pressure of the compressed air having been maintained during the hardenin the supply of compressed air is turned off yclosing the valve in pipe 16, the cap 20 is raised, and the record removed.

I The record will have contracted sufficiently to disengage it from the surface of the matrix, so that it maybe readily removed by lon itudinal movement. The removal may be facilitated by giving the interior surface 5 5 of the matrix a slight taper.

' In the above-described operation of forming the sound-record all air trapped between the'surface of the matrix and the outer surface of the blank cylinder will by the expan- 6o sion of the blank into tight en agement with the matrixsurface be force to the ends of the matrix, where it will escape through the annular spaces 12 and 24 and vents 13- and 25. a

As will be observed,the duplicate cylindrical s0und-record made in my apparatus does not have at its ends the customary inturned flan es for fitting the mandrel of a talking- I machine. The formation of such flanges in the usual way on records of this type adds greatly to their expense, due to the additional steps of turnin in the ends of cylinders and then reaming the inner edges of these flanges to form openings of the proper size to fit the machine-mandrel. Furthermore, to prevent wabbling of the sound-record and consequent interference with the operation of the reproducing mechanism the openings formed by the flanges must be accurately concentric to the surface of the record-cylinder. In reproducing on ordinary machines from my records, which are greatly cheapened by omission of the flanges mentioned, I propose to employ an auxiliary mandrel or support closely but removably fitting within the sound-record and having a longitudinal central opening removably fittin the machinemandrel. The sound-record Iiears throughout against a solid cylindrical surfaceof the auxiliary mandrel, and any irregularities in the record-cylinder, due for example, to aging or warping, will be rectified by the accurate surface of the auxiliary mandrel. The re productions from records of this type thus backed will be louder and the tone better than reproductions from similar records having end flanges, and thus touching the mandrel only at the ends. I

, What I claim as neW-is-' In apparatus for molding sound-records by impressing a cylindrical blank against the inner surface of a cylindrical matrix, the

combination of a cylindrical matrix, a plate for closing the matrix at one end having therein arecess into which one end of the blank is adapted to closely fit and extend beyond the end of the matrix, the junction between the plate and matrix forming an annur lar vented space adapted to surround the cylindrical blank a short distance from its said end and communicate with the space between the outer surface of the blank and inner surface of the matrix in the operation of forming a duplicate record.

2. In apparatus for molding sound-records by impressing a cylindrical blank against the inner surface of a cylindrical matrix, the.

combination of a cylindrical matrix, a plate for closing the matrix at one end having therein a cylindrical recess having approximately the internal diameter of the matrix into which recess one end of the blank is adapted to closely fit and extend beyond the end of the matrix, the junction between the plate'and matrix forming an annular vented space adapted to surround the cylindrical blank a short distance from its said end and communicate with the space between the ICO outer surface of the blank and inner surface of the matrix in the operation of forming a duplicate record.

3. In' apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a cylindrical matrix, a basetween the base-plate and matrix and cap and matrix forming annular vented spaces adapted to surroundythe cylindrical blank at short distances from its opposite ends respectively and each.communicate with the space between the outer surface of the blank and the inner surface of the matrix in the operation of forming a. duplicate record. 1

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a. cylindrical matrix, a baseplate for closing the lower end and a cap for closing the upper end of .the matrix, both said plate and cap'having therein a recess having approximately the internal diameter of the matrix mto which recess theends of thecylindrical blank are adapted to closely fit and extend beyond theends of the matrix, the junctions between the base-plate and matrix and the cap and matrix forming annular vented spaces adapted to surround the cylindrical blank at short distances from its opposite ends respectively and each communicatewith the space between the outer surface of the blank and theinnersurface of the matrix in the operation of forming a duplicate record.

' 5. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a cylindrical matrix, of a plate for closing one 'end of the matrix having a recess -therein into which one end of the cylindrical blank is adapted to closely fit and extend beyond the end of the matrix, a shoulder on one. part bearing against the other part forming between the adjacent surfaces of the plate and matrix an annular space adapted to surround the blank near its said end, said space having outlets or vents.

- 6. In apparatus of the class described, the

the ends of the matrix, and bearing-shoul ders holding the parts apart to form between adjacent surfaces of the matrix and cap and the matrix and base-plate annular spaces adapted to surround the blank near its ends respectively, said spaces having vents.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a cylindrical matrix and end plates for closing the ends thereof, of

a small constantly open outlet or vent-opening of fixed or invariable size communicating with the chamber of the matrix within 8. record-cylinder therein, whereby the uninterrupted and regular escape through said vent ofpressure-exerting fluid introduced into the matrix in the operation of making an impressed sound-record effects a regular circuation'of said fluid through the'matrix.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination with a cylindrical matrix or mold, of means for closingthe ends thereof, means for admitting a heating fluid and a cooling fluid to the interior of the matrix, and independent means for applying. a cooling liquid to the exterior of the matrix.

- 9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a cylindrical matrix or mold, of means for closing the ends thereof, means for admitting a heatin fluid and a cooling fluid to vthe'interior o the matrix, and a jacket about the matrix adapted to receive a liquid independent of the admission of cooling fluid to the interior of the matrix.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. WALTER S. TYLER. Witnesses F. H. OSBORNE, F. W. Roox. 

